Parkinson's disease study at BCM

HW Staff

Feb 22|15:28

Published on 22 February 2011

Enrollment is well underway in a new double-blind Phase 2b study evaluating CERE-120 in Parkinson’s disease patients. Baylor College of Medicine is one of 11 major U.S. medical centers currently enrolling patients.

CERE-120 is a gene therapy product that delivers the gene for the neurotrophic factor neurturin to degenerating or dying dopamine neurons in the hopes it will restore function and protect brain cells from further damage.

This study is testing the safety and potential benefits of an enhanced CERE-120 dosing regimen targeting two brain areas affected by Parkinson’s disease. It follows a completed Phase 1 study that demonstrated early safety of this approach.

The study is enrolling men and women between the ages of 35 and 70 who are diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. They must be experiencing motor complications despite adequate antiparkinsonian therapy but have stable symptoms. They must also be medically fit to undergo the study surgical procedure.

Ceregene, Inc., a San Diego biopharmaceutical company, is sponsoring the study, which is partially funded by a $2.5M LEAPS (Linked Efforts to Accelerate Parkinson's Solutions) award from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.